The Hop Pole, in Bath, which closed suddenly last August, is to re-open as a traditional family pub under the ownership of the city’s Abbey Ales.
“We have been looking to expand our small exclusive pub estate for some time, and the Hop Pole presented all the opportunities we were looking for,” said Alan Morgan, chairman and managing director of Abbey Ales.
“The pub has been empty for eight months, but we will carry out a minor TLC refurbishment to breathe new life into the business. We will re-open the Hop Pole as a traditional-style family pub, with the added attractions of darts, pool, and Sky Sports.”
Abbey Ales’ three other popular pubs — the Star Inn, the Assembly Inn, and the city’s smallest pub, the Coeur de Lion — were all run down or closed when the brewery took them over.
“Strangely, all three pubs needed an uplift when we took them on, and they are all now running very successfully,” said operations director, Simon Morgan. “We are confident we can make the Hop Pole another great successful landmark in Bath.”
Abbey Ales started brewing in 1997 and produces a number of award-winning craft ales. When it launched it was the first and only brewery in Bath for more than 50 years. Its famous Bellringer cask bitter impressed local MP Don Foster so much he arranged for it to be sold as a guest ale in the Houses of Parliament.
